“As recently amended, current Michigan law prohibits Tesla from being able to license its own sales and service operations in the state. Submission of the application is intended to seek the secretary of state’s confirmation of this prohibition. Once confirmed, Tesla will review any options available to overturn this anti-consumer law,” said a Tesla spokesperson.

What we can’t be sure of, however, is whether this is an elaborate plan by Elon Musk to set a legal trap for the state of Michigan, or whether Tesla is just making a lot of noise before finally setting up some sort of dealership network in states that won’t allow its direct sales model.

At this point, Musk’s continued adherence to the direct-sales model is starting to feel a little like a personal vendetta against states that ban it.